Regenerative medicine has always played an important role in the field of dentistry. In endodontics, for several decades, dentine regeneration has been induced by application of a calcium hydroxide preparation over inflamed pulp tissue in carious teeth. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) was developed recently as a novel periodontal therapy, allowing regeneration of periodontal tissue without the use of cells or growth factors through the creation of space. While operative procedures have thus been established for partial tissue regeneration, research into regeneration of the whole tooth is still in the initial stage.
Using lasers to regenerate and grow body parts sounds like science fiction, but researchers have just demonstrated that it might be a transformative tool in medicine — or at least dentistry.Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) and how it’s changing dentistry:
Platelet rich fibrin is the new talk of the town when it comes to surgery. With improved healing and immune support, a surgery can have quicker and better healing, with less post-op complications.
Dr.Joseph Choukroun, a French surgeon, first realized the platelets contribution to patient recovery when he was performing facial surgeries. Applying this to dentistry, we can add platelet-rich fibrin back into the socket after a tooth is removed. This procedure is now recognized as an effective treatment to promote healing during dental surgery.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a byproduct of our blood, is extremely high in platelets and growth factors —the “signaling” molecules that allow communication between cells. Choukroun’s PRF centrifuge system allows us to extract blood, separate out platelets and growth factors, and add the powerhouse combination back into your body.
How does it work? First, we take a small amount of blood from you. Next, we place the blood into the PRF centrifuge machine, where it is separated out into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As we are performing a tooth extraction or other procedure, we can add the fortified blood back into your body to promote healing in the site where it’s needed. The combination of platelets and growth factors have regenerative capabilities, healing hard and soft tissue more quickly, and help you recover faster after a tooth extraction. We’re excited to offer PRF centrifuge treatment at NYC Dental Wellness Center.